Documenting the need for nutrition and health intervention for middle-aged and older adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta region.
Multiple demographic, health, and environmental factors may influence the overall quality of diets among rural middle-aged and older adults. This project compared the diet quality of participants in Foods of Our Delta Survey (FOODS 2000) who were aged 55 years and older with national data. The data were assessed using 24-hour dietary recall methodology and a modified version of the United States Department of Agriculture Healthy Eating Index (HEI) that excluded the sodium component. The mean total Modified Healthy Eating Index (MHEI) study score was significantly lower than their counterparts from the national survey (61.0 +/- 0.68 vs. 65.6 +/- 3.65, P < 0.0001). Race and educational attainment were associated with higher MHEI scores. This study emphasized a critical need for implementing nutrition and health interventions in rural communities with special attention to subpopulations at risk.
Johnson
Glenda S
GS
Southern University, A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA. glenda_johnson@suagcenter.com
McGee
Bernestine B
BB
Gossett
Jeffrey M
JM
Thornton
Alma
A
Simpson
Pippa M
PM
Johnson
Crystal
C
Richardson
Valerie
V
Bogle
Margaret
M
James-Holly
Dawanna
D
McCabe-Sellers
Beverly
B
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008922:Mississippi; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data